The women of Bonny Kingdom have been called upon to vote by their conscience for candidates that would mainstream their interest and work for the holistic development and progress of the feminine gender.

Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Helen Pepple said this on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 during an interactive session with the House of Representatives candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, Irene Kaladappa and Cyril Hart, respectively and House of Assembly candidate of the Accord Party for Bonny Constituency, Lionel Pepple in Bonny, Rivers State.

“When we enter into our meeting, we will discuss and decide who we are going to vote for. But you know we have to vote our conscience; we have to vote those who will uplift Bonny women.”

She expressed her appreciation to the candidates for responding to the call of the women for an interactive session, saying it has afforded the women the opportunity to hear their plans for them and also ask them questions, stressing that such engagements were critical to creating a functional interface between the women those who want to lead them.

“Thank you for answering the call, and for coming to meet with Bonny women. When we are done we meet at our own place where we’ll do the needful.”

“We have seen the high and mighty, we’ve heard from them, there’s nothing new they are going to tell us. It’s only our conscience that will judge us if we don’t do the right thing.”  

“Thank you very much Bonny sons and daughters for coming, we appreciate your coming. May God Almighty bless you. When God says yes, no man can say no. Today we know, tomorrow we don’t know.”

Addressing the women, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) House of Representatives candidate for Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, Irene Kaladappa said her antecedents are well consolidated across the Niger Delta, stressing that her background of fearlessness and integrity were key to ensuring that she cascades the dividends of democracy to her constituents when elected into office.

“I am an intellectual and I move with intellectuals. Tompolo knows me, King Ateke Tom knows me, Asari Dokubo knows me; AnnKio Briggs can speak for because I am fearless.”

“I don’t have a godfather. I will not hand over what belongs to Bonny people to anyone. Sending me to Abuja is sending Bonny women to Abuja because I will represent them well.”

She promised to attract the intervention of federal parastatals and agencies to Bonny and Degema LGAs, stressing that her exposure and proximity to the corridors of power in the country would serve to ensure that her people are positively impacted when she gets to the green chamber.  

Speaking, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, Cyril Hart outlined his plans for the women which comprised economic empowerment, healthcare provision, educational development and social impact, asserting that his achievements during his foray into public office are well consolidated.  

“I have a track record of performance in public office; I was Caretaker Committee Chairman and I did well. I took them down memory lane of the things I did while in office.”

“It is my prayer that every woman becomes industrious, you must learn how to feed and get prepared for yourself but there are some women who are not able to work because of age or ailments. Should we abandon them? That’s not a good.”

“Whereas everybody should go to work, there are people who cannot work, they should be catered for. Basically, there are issues of housing, you know we’re suffering housing; I told the women that if by God’s grace they elect me, I’ll interface with the Ministry of Housing and get them to build a lot of houses for our people.”

On his part, the Accord Party House of Assembly candidate for Bonny Constituency, Lionel Pepple said it was time exit the old paradigm of representation in Politics for new hands, pointing out that staying with the old guard that has not delivered governance and its associated development would continue to yield same results and pitch the women with lack of development and socio-economic progress.

“It is time for us to try the next person, let us try another person because I know what I have done in this kingdom; it speaks for itself. My scorecard speaks for itself.”  

“Let them not look at the party, let them not look at the norms; how it has always been and how it is today.”

“For the fact that the BVAS is going to work for us; for the fact that it is going to be one, one vote, let them vote for me so that I will bring the dividends of democracy. So that I will bring governance close to them as a member to represent them at the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

The women took turns to ask questions of the candidates ranging from accessibility to provision of social amenities and accountability, to which the candidates took turns to respond to, assuring them that their respective promises would be fulfilled when elected into office.

This meeting was sequel to earlier ones where candidates of the various political parties participating in the 2023 general elections attended and addressed the women and responded to their questions on governance and development.